Apparatus for use in instruction with small-arms.



W P. COLEMAN.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN INSTRUCTION WITH SMALL ARMS.

APPLICATION FILED uovzs. I917.

1,273,034. Patented July 16, 1918.

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W. P. COLEMAN.

APPARATUS FOR. USE IN INSTRUCTION WITH SMALL ARMS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV; 26. 1917- 1 ,273,Q34. v Patented July 16, 1918. v q Z \%HEETSSHEET 2- g9 E Q 1 A Q h I N I I R N Q1 rm FFIQE.

WILLIS P. COLEMAN, THE UNITED STATES ARMY. V

APPARATUS ron usnrn INSTRUCTION WITH SMALL-ARMS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIS P. COLE- MAN, lieut. colonel, U. S. Army, a citizen of the United States, stationed at Camp Grant, Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Instruction with Small-Arms; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements for use in connection with the instruction of recruits, and even 1narksmen,'in the proper method of holding the piece and pulling the trigger without disturbing the line of sight.

'To be able to shoot a military rifle with accuracy it is necessary to hold the rifle'in avise-like grip during the operation of squeezing the trigger. And to bring the re- 1 on the necessity for gripping the piece firmly and pulling the trigger without disturbing the line of sight, which makes it plainly apparent to theinstructor, as well as to the recruit himself, the; inability of the recruit to perform this mostnecessary part of rifle shooting. I

-My invention will be more clearly understood after reference to the accompany ing drawings, in which:

' Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the apparatus used in connection with a military rifle.

Fig. 2 is a view on a larger scale of the stand carryingthe connecting pin.

Fi 3 shows a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows. v

Fig. 4 shows a slightly modified form of the apparatus, the view being otherwise similar to Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing the stand carrying the electric battery, the bell and needle support-the parts being shown Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Applicationfiled November 26, 1917. Serial No. 204,131.

in section, broken along the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the electric connections.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, 1 represents the rifle, 2 represents the stand having the upright stanchion 3 provided with a socket adapted to receive the metal bar 4 carrying the yoke 5, one arm 6 of said yoke carrying the contact pin 7 and the other arm 8 of said yoke carrying the plate provided with a miniature target 9, which plate is connected to the arm 8 by means of the clamp screw 10.

The stand 2 and stanchion 3 are provided with insulating material and electrically connected with the bar 4 secured by means of the clamp screw 11, which is connected by the conductor 12 to a source of electricity such as the battery 13, the opposite pole of the battery being connected by the conductor 14 to the band 15, which is fast on the barrel of the piece. 16 represents an electric bell or buzzer, or the like, which is op erated when the electric circuit is completed.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4:, 5 and 6, the stand 22 and stanchion 23 are made of wood as before, and the rod 24 is also of wood and clamped in the desired position by the clamps 23. This rodv 24 is connected to the yoke 25, one arm26 of which carries the socket piece 26 in which the needle 7 a is adjustably mounted as by means of the clamp screw 7', the other arm 28 of the yoke 25 carries the plate 28 provided with a miniature target 9, similar to that shown in Fig.1.

The brace 29 serves not only to brace the stanchion 23 but also as a support for the bell 16. The platform 22 carries the electric cells 13 connected in series 13 and one terminal of the battery is connected to the conductor 12 which, after passing through the windings of the bell, is connected to the clamp screw '7 which is in electrical; connection with the adjustable needle 7. The other terminal of the battery is connected by the conductor 14 to the conducting band 15 on the barrel of the piece as before.

The operation is the same in both forms of the device, and is as follows:

The recruit under instruction takes the prone position, that is flat on the ground, and adjusts the sling so as to enable him to hold the butt of the rifle close against his shoulder; he then aims at the mini t re ta get 9, which is just'above the conducting pin 7 'or 7*, as the case may be. When the rifle i is steady the instructor moves either the pin or the stand, so-that the point of the pin enters slightly the mouth of the bore. The recruit is their required to pull on the trigger or squeeze the trigger, as it is technically termed, until the sear is released and the piece is snapped without ,ringinggthe bell. Any displacement ofv the muzzle of the piecewill cause a contact to be made between the side of the bore and the contact pin, and the bell Will ring.

By changing the height of the stand, the same-device may be used for the kneeling or standing position of the recruit; moreover, by varying the diameter ofthe pin, the degree of steadiness with which the piece must be held may be slightly varied. I

It will be'scen that with the deviceshown in Fig. 4, the recruit may bring the piece close to the pin, and the pin may be very readily moved longitudinally and inserted into the muzzle of the piece and then clamped at the desired position.

. While I have shown an electric battery as furnishing the necessary electric current, any suitable available source of electricity may be adopted. Moreover, it will bexnoted that the same device may be' used for instructing in holdingand firing revolversor pistols.

. Itgis obvious that various modifications might be made in the herein described device, and in the construction, combination and arrangement ofparts which could be used-Without.- departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not mean-to limit the invention to details except as PELItlClT-5 larly pointed out in the claims. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and-desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is Y 1'. Apparatus for use in instruction with small arms comprising a frame, a metal pin of less diameter than the bore of the piece 7 carriedby said frame and adapted to be cau-sed'to project into the muzzle of the piece, a source of electricity, and an electric circuit having its terminals connected respectively to the barrel of said piece, and

to said pin, which circuit is closedv when saidpin contacts with the wall of the bore of-the piece, and an electric signaling device operated only when the circuit is closed, substant1ally' as descr1bed. V

2. Apparatus for use 1n instruction with small arms comprisinga-frame, a metal pin of less diameter than the bore-of the piece carried by said frame and adapted to be caused to project into the -mu'zzle of the piece, a sou-rc-eof electricity, and an electric circuithaving its terminals connected resmall arms comprising a frame, a metal pin of less diameter-"that the bore of the piece adjustably mounted in said frame and adapted to be caused to project into the muzzle of the piece, a source of electricity, and an electric circuit having its terminals connected respectively to the barrel of said piece, and to said pin, which circuit is closed when said pin contacts with the wall of the bore of the piece, and an electric signaling device operated only when the circuit is closed, substantially as described.

4'. Apparatus for use in instruction with small arms comprising a frame, a metal pm of less diameter than the bore of the piece adjustably mounted in said frame and adapted to be caused to project into the muzzle of the piece, a source of electricity, and an electric circuit having its terminals connected respectively to the barrel of said piece, and to said pin, which circuit is-closed when said pin contacts with the'wall of the muzzle of the piece, a sourceof'electricity,

and an electric circuit having its terminals connected respectively, to the barrel of said piece, and to said pin, which circuit .is'closed when said pin contacts with the wall of the bore of the piece, and an electric signaling: devlce operated only when the CJICLHt' 1s closed, substantially as described;

6. Apparatus for use in instruction with small arms comprising a frame having a vertically ad ustable yoke mounted. thereon, a metal pm of less diameter than the bore of the piece adjustably .moun-ted in said yoke and adapted to be'caused'. to project into the muzzle of the'piece, a source of electrlclty, and an electric circuit having its terminals connected respectively to thebarrel of said piece, andto said pin, which cir cuit is closed when, said pin contacts with the wall of the bore of the piece, and'can electric bell operated only when the circuit is closed,- substantially as described.

In testimonywhereof, I afliX my signature;

WILLIS P.1COLE1VIAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byeddressing the (Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G 

